Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I went out today to see the den that I found a couple of weeks ago and look for more snakes,it was sunny and about 70 this afternoon. I found another den with what lookes like about 15 snakes that I saw anyway. Also saw a pair in another spot. Dean

Same den,the large light green snake is a male trying to mate with a female. Dean

Same den.

Wow! I am impressed! I have searched long and hard here in Northern California for a den site without success. I hear old timers talk about dens, but I have been skeptical because they also talk about hoop snakes etc... We have so many burrows, logs, isolated flat rocks etc., and comparatively mild Winters (no snow) that perhaps they do not den here. What gave you the faith/effort to walk that rocky area, did you just stumble onto the den or confirm your theory by searching? Congratulations, I regard that a real exciting Natural History find. Have any other forum readers found C.v.oreganus dens? How about C.v.helleri dens? Vic Herrick in Oroville, CA.

Same den.

WOW!!!!!
And look at the rattle on that last one!
I have never found anything like this. Amazing pics!
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Crazy ZooLady

Can you tell me the general area where you found them? I have been looking for some time and have never found anything like this.

I am in Myrtle Creek,OR. Where are you? And more important where are you looking? You will only see this in the spring befor it warmes up and the snakes move out from there winter den,or in the fall when they come back. They will be in south faceing rock out crops that get full sun. There has to be a crack in the rock or an entrance for them to get deep under ground. And it has to be dry,if it is wet the snakes will not use it. Not all snakes will gather up in large groups,in this same area I also saw a pair and several singles in diferent places. I have found that these snakes can be any where in the summer once it warmes up and they start to move but rocky areas are always best. I don't think they travle great disstances so they will still be in those areas. Dean

Thanks for the reply! I am in Dallas, TX and I am always interested in looking for snakes.